title: Cerebral acetylcholinesterase activity is not decreased in MS patients with cognitive impairment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neuropsychological studies have extensively described the presence of cognitive dysfunction in MS patients. One possible pharmacological treatment of the impairment could be based on acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs), which have shown efficacy in alleviating cognitive impairment in many other disorders. The findings on the efficacy of AChEI medication in MS associated cognitive symptoms are preliminary and no studies concerning cerebral acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in these patients have been published.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to examine cerebral AChE activity in cognitively deteriorated MS patients. Cerebral AChE activity of 10 MS patients with secondary progressive disease and marked cognitive impairment, and 10 healthy controls, was studied with positron emission tomography using tracer (11)C-MP4A.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cognitive profile of the patients was assessed with CERAD (Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences in cortical AChE activity between MS patients and controls were seen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the patient group regional AChE activities had inverse correlations with Word learning and MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination) scores. In the group of cognitively deteriorated MS patients no change in cerebral AChE activity, compared with controls, was observed, but within the patient group more pronounced cognitive symptoms were associated with higher cerebral AChE activity.
authors.affiliation: Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Finland. jere.virta@utu.fi
authors.forename: Jere R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Virta
authors.forename: Sari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laatu
authors.forename: Riitta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parkkola
authors.forename: Vesa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Oikonen
authors.forename: Juha O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Rinne
authors.forename: Juhani
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruutiainen
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000201:enzymology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000201:enzymology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography
chemical_list: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase